About Paul Dongarra

Paul grew up in a working-class family, with immigrant grandparents who instilled in him the values of fairness, social justice, and standing up to prejudice. After graduating from public school, he became the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in history from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and completing post-graduate studies at UMBC.

For nearly 35 years, Paul and his wife Rebecca have lived in District One. Raising three children while running a special events firm for more than 27 years prepared Paul for public service, teaching him how to balance budgets, solve problems, and deliver results. As a successful business owner, he also supported numerous nonprofits with both his time and financial contributions to strengthen and enhance community life.

Paul constantly continues his education in Smart Growth and community-driven planning practices, attending webinars and conferences, and leading discussions about applying best practices in District One. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club’s Greater Baltimore Group, relaunching their outings program, advancing environmental legislation, and promoting Smart Growth and transportation initiatives.

As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Paul will apply these skills to lead the most important project of all: building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous District One. His experience will enhance constituent services, ensuring residents receive responsive, efficient support from their local government.

Paul’s demonstrated commitment to the following principles:

Transparency
Paul believes people deserve a true voice in their government. He organized 200+ neighbors to fight for fair redistricting, exposed illegal developer contributions, pushed to close pay-to-play loopholes, and continues to champion the independence of the Office of the Inspector General.

Efficient & Effective Government
Paul knows every dollar should strengthen our communities. He has advocated for responsible redevelopment that delivers community benefits and preserves open space— while prioritizing funding for education, public safety, economic growth, environmental protection, and quality of life.

Equity & Inclusion
Paul is committed to fairness and opportunity for all. He has testified for affordable housing, marched for equality, and stood with marginalized communities — always working to confront systemic racism and promote equal protection under the law.

Sustainability
Paul is a champion for the environment and future generations. He promotes Smart Growth and sustainable business practices, leads biodiversity and flood resilience projects, advances environmental education, and works to protect drinking water and cut reliance on fossil fuels to protect District One’s future.